Posts by Sara Szal MD
Wholeness: Why the Photo Shoot for My New Book Cover Made Me Feel Complete (And What You All Said About It, Too!)
We need more wholeness in the world, especially now. A recent photo shoot served as an important reminder. For me, the photo shoots never used to be about being whole. Instead, they used to be one part joy and one part do-I-look-fat-in-this-dress? Now I zip up the dress, stop staring in the mirror, and ask: …
Read MoreWorried About Holiday Weight Gain? Try These 3 Tips
Women are often on edge about the bathroom scale between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Is there really any way to enjoy the holidays and avoid gaining weight? Hell, yes. This year, I’m going to clue you in on three—yes, just three—ways that you probably don’t know can help you stave off extra weight during the…
Read MoreFive Healthy Gifts That Benefit Hormones
We tend to let the holidays steer us away from healthiness. Yet the holidays are the perfect time to stay on track and share our commitment to health through the gifts we give. Sure, a gift of fiber powder may not say “happy holidays,” but I’ve found five gifts that help reset hormones and will…
Read MoreThree Fabulous Recipes for Fall
When it comes to walking the talk on nutrition, the proof is on your plate. I love recipes. I want recipes for meals that are nutrient-packed, yet pleasurable. As we face the holidays, you can plan accordingly to eat so well that you’ll still feel virtuous and healthy come January. Here are my favorite recipes…
Read MoreThanksgiving: What Gratitude Does to Your Brain
Dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin walk into a bar . . . No, I’m not going to torture you with a bad joke. Instead, I want to discuss what gratitude does to the brain. Recent research findings are a call to action for a sense of thanksgiving every day, not just the fourth Thursday in November.…
Read MoreMedical Emergencies While Traveling and What to Do
When I was in my thirties, I traveled from San Francisco to Paris for vacation. We took a red eye, hoping my baby daughter would sleep. Just as I was dozing off, I heard an announcement: “Is there a doctor on board?” Apparently, I was the only volunteer. The flight attendant brought me to the…
Read MoreWhy Can’t I Lose Weight and Keep It Off? (Hint: It’s Not Your Fault)
Have you tried every diet imaginable, and still find it hard to lose weight? Or maybe you lose weight, only to gain it back within a few months? Chances are your metabolism is broken. A broken metabolism is intertwined with what I call hormone misfires, which make you store fat no matter what diet you…
Read MoreDetoxification: Your Questions Answered
What does detox mean, in a nutshell? Detox is nutrient rehab. Detoxing means cleaning out the body, removing toxins, clearing out your jammed hormone receptors, and resetting key hormones. Most simply, detox is a tool of functional medicine: remove the obstacles to radical health, and add in the factors that support you. We accumulate junk…
Read More30-Day Challenge: The ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO RESET YOUR HORMONES
I am often asked: What’s the ONE THING that will fix my hormones as fast as possible? My answer is to drink a green protein shake every day until your hormones are back on track, which usually takes 30 days, or longer depending on severity. Since you’re reading this article, I will assume your hormones…
Read More5 FAQs on Hormones and Weight Loss Resistance
What happens in the body regarding weight gain and loss when estrogen and progesterone are out of balance? Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone. It gives women hips and breasts, buffers mood, and keeps you on task by regulating serotonin. Estrogen is responsible for the first half of your menstrual cycle, it boosts sex…
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